Thursday, June 02, 2016

Singapore BCA's Universal Design Mark 2016 Award for Inclusive Design to 25 projects

Dear colleagues,

The Housing Board Project SkyVille@Dawson has bagged  the Singapore's Building & Construction Authority's (BCA) highest award for inclusive design.

The housing estate in Dawson Road is one of three Platinum winners of the BCA Universal Design Mark 2016, and among 25 total winners that range from residential projects to malls and parks.

The housing project has many Universal Design & User Friendly features from ramps incorporated into main routes around the estate to the large light switches that are easy to reach within flats.

"Universal design is about addressing the needs of as many people as possible, including persons with disabilities and the elderly," said BCA's acting group director for building plan and management, Mr Teo Orh Hai.

This includes physical features such as ramps and corridors wide enough for wheelchairs, as well as facilities catering to all ages, such as playgrounds that incorporate fitness facilities for older adults.

Universal design also extends to subtler touches such as large, clear signs to help people find their way around, sheltered walkways and adequate seating.

For instance, at Bedok Mall and Bedok Residences - a Gold Plus winner - a large canopy links various forms of transport, from the MRT station and bus interchange to bicycle parking. Plenty of seating is also available throughout the integrated mall and private apartments, giving shoppers and residents places to rest.

Winners received their awards at the annual BCA Awards ceremony on May 26, 2016 at Resorts World Sentosa.

Brief about BCA's Universal Design Awards

To encourage of Universal Design, the BCA initiated the annual BCA UD Awards in 2007 to accord recognition to stakeholders for incorporating user-friendly features in their developments. The BCA UD Awards was replaced by the BCA UD Mark certification scheme in October 2012. 

About the BCA UD Mark Certification Scheme

The BCA UD Mark is a voluntary certification scheme launched in October 2012 as an initiative to raise the bar on UD adoption in developments.  Since its inception, 94 awards had been given out to deserving projects. 

This initiative accords recognition to developments and stakeholders that adopt a user-centric philosophy in their design, operations and maintenance. It also aims to raise greater public awareness towards user-friendly buildings. This scheme allows assessment of projects at design stage, thereby, facilitating the incorporation of UD principles from the onset of project development.

A built development is awarded a display plaque, indicating one of the four UD Mark ratings: Certified, Gold, GoldPLUS or Platinum. For on-going projects, UD Mark ratings is determined based on design and indicated as Certified (design), Gold (design) or GoldPLUS(design). 

Benefits of the UD Mark

The BCA UD Mark identifies and distinguishes developments that have gone beyond meeting minimum standards. With the impending silver tsunami, the recognition of best practices in enhancing accessibility and user-friendliness within the development provides the following benefits:
  • Improves competitiveness by meeting the varying needs of diverse user groups
  • Increase in the number of potential visitors to the development, thereby, generating greater sales and revenue
  • Generates a positive effect on the corporate image

Source: Straitstimes 








Wednesday, April 13, 2016

3rd Batch of Access Auditor Training at National CPWD Academy by CABE (11-13 Apr 2016)



Dear colleagues,

Picture of the Banner posted out the Classroom of Basic Access Auditor Training under Accessible India Campaign
Batch III - Training Course on Accessible India Campaign
As part of Accessible India Campaign, National CPWD Academy, Ghaziabad, being a nodal agency for capacity development of stakeholders on access audits of built environment, is conducting Basic Access Auditor course - a three day full time residential programme for in-service architects and engineers of CPWD posted at  different locations in India. CABE Foundation is leading this training program as an Expert Agency. The training was led by Mr. Subhash Chandra Vashishth, Director and Principal Consultant - Accessibility and Universal Design at CABE Foundation.  

A picture of trainees from A picture of Trainees from Group III of Batch 3 conducting access audit
Group I of Batch 3 conducting access audit indicating their group

In this series, the IIIrd batch of 3 day training was held during 11 April 2016 to 13 April 2016 at National CPWD Academy, Ghaziabad under the aegis of CABE Foundation. A total of 47 architects and engineers of CPWD attended and successfully completed the Basic Access Auditor Course.

A picture of Trainees from Group III of Batch 3 conducting access audit
Group III of Batch 3 conducting access audit indicating their group

The participants were trained and examined on not just the Space Standards on Barrier Free Environment and Accessibility based on Universal Design but also exposed to practical access audit practice and report making. 

The trained Basic Access Auditors would be expected to conduct access audit of govt buildings -both Central Govt and State Govt in their region where they are posted and make them accessible as per the mandate of Accessible India Campaign of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.


A picture of a group of Trainees after the Physical Access Audit
A group of Trainees after the Physical Access Audit


Picture of trainees appearing in the Written Test post the Access Audit Training
Trainees appearing in the Written Assessment Test post the Access Audit Training

Group Photo of Batch III Trainees at National CPWD Academy, Ghaziabad trained as Basic Access Auditors under Accessible India Campaign during 11-13 April 2016. A copy of this photo is available on CPWD website at link: http://cpwd.gov.in/WriteReadData/training_cir/20749.pdf
Group Photo of Batch III Trainees at National CPWD Academy.
This photo is also available in higher resolution PDF File on CPWD Website link: http://cpwd.gov.in/WriteReadData/training_cir/20749.pdf

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Saturday, April 09, 2016

CABE conducts 3-day Access Auditor Training for CPWD (2nd Batch) 7-9 Apr 16

Dear colleagues,

Batch II of Access Audit Training
As part of Accessible India Campaign, National CPWD Academy has been designated to be the nodal agency to conduct capacity development training on access audits of built environment.

Mr. Subhash Chandra Vashishth, Founder CABE (extreme left)
with Ms. Papiya Sarkar, Chief Architect, DMRC (extreme right),
Mr. Satish  Kumar, EE, Course Coordinator, (2nd from rt.)
Mr. Shivam Awasthi, Volunteer-CABE (3d from right) & EE Goa
In a time bound manner CPWD will train it's all engineers and architects on the Harmonized Guidelines and Space Standards on Barrier Free Environment for Elderly & Persons with Disabilities and National Building Code of India.

In this series, the National CPWD Academy, Ghaziabad under the aegis of CABE, conducted a three day full time residential training course leading to a Basic Access Auditor Certificate during 07 April to 09 April 2016.

This was the second batch of Basic Access Auditors. The course was attended and successfully completed by 29 architects and engineers of CPWD currently posted at different locations in India.

Group I of Batch II doing Access Audit
The course included orientation to legal and policy framework on accessibility in India; Use of right terminology and disability etiquette; introduction to the Indian Codes & Guidelines on accessibility; Simulation and User derived space standards, Sample Access audit of Built Infrastructure followed by a written test and practical exposure to the trainees.

Group II of Batch II doing Access Audit
The trainees were also exposed to the access audit process and putting together technical access audit reports highlighting the barriers to accessibility and solutions to overcome them followed by group presentations.  

The trained Basic Access Auditors would be expected to conduct access audit of govt buildings -both Central Govt and State Govt in their area and make them accessible as per the mandate of Accessible India Campaign of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.

Visit us for regular updates on Facebook Page:  CABE India. Stay tuned!





Monday, April 04, 2016

Launch of CABE- Centre for Accessibility in Built Environment, India

Dear colleagues, 

This blog is to share the updates on the activities of CABE Foundation (Centre for Accessibility in Built Environment Foundation), India and to disseminate the latest developments in the field of Accessibility and Universal Design. 

CABE Foundation was established on 01 April 2016 as an advocacy, research and capacity building non profit organisation to further the object of Accessibility in the built environment, transportation systems and Infrastructure and enhance mobility for all for a liveable habitat.

Accessible India Campaign initiated by our Hon'ble Prime Minister of India on 03rd December 2015, being coordinated by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities is a shot in arm for the objective of an inclusive India and CABE  Foundation fully supports it and has started contributing to the capacity building initiatives.

We welcome your thoughts and suggestions at info@cabefoundation.com.  Please do visit  & like our Facebook Page  and follow us on Twitter.